When I was in my early twenties, I had the opportunity to work with my friend, stylist Heathermary Jackson, as her assistant. She was (and still is) an amazing stylist who traveled all over the world and worked at cool-ass magazines, and I was her second in command. It was brutal. It wasn’t that I didn’t love Heathermary (I did) or that I didn’t like the work (I liked it, didn’t love it), it was more that it’s a pretty hard job, one I didn’t necessarily care to excel in. A lot of girls probably think that being a stylist is pretty glamorous, but really it’s less about having good style and more about lugging garment bags and trunks of clothes around. And just because you have good style, doesn’t mean you’d make a god stylist. A good stylist knows how to mix in Billabong with Louis Vuitton and make it all look expensive and flawless and smart. A great stylist knows how to make Chanel look affordable and Kmart look desirable. If you think that’s easy, you’re wrong. Stylists know both obscure and commercial references, and they can do something avant-garde even if they only ever wear Gap. Personal style and editorial style are worlds apart. I’m glad that I worked in that field for a minute though, if only to find out that I knew it wasn’t for me.

My personal style is debatably good, I honestly don’t know sometimes. Living in New York, it’s easy to let envy get the best of you. There’s a lot of money in this city, and a lot of people like to flash it around like it’s not a big deal. Rich people like to look like they’re slumming it, and poor people like to look rich, but both lies have to be perfectly balanced otherwise it totally backfires. The vintage isn’t cheap here either, and sometimes when you wear too much vintage, you become one of those “vintage-y” girls, which can be dangerously close to looking like a dusty old doily. In your early twenties it’s fine to just cut up a dress or a t shirt and let the hems fray up and blow carelessly in the wind, but as I’ve gotten older I realize I can’t get away with doing that so much. 

I have some favorite stores which I’ll list below, but really what I do is wear mostly Cheap Monday jeans ($65!), old t shirts (some thrift, some American Apparel) and invest in great shoes, great coats, and one great, chunky piece of jewelry. Most of my jewelry comes from my mother or my grandmother however, which is really the best thing you can do for yourself and your wardrobe. I own a lot of wacky stuff too, which is good for a fleeting fashion moment or a single season (Budweiser print leggings from Peggy Noland, Betsey Johnson/Mark Mahoney tattoo print shirts), but it’s easy to get sick of these quickly, and eventually they’ll make their way back into circulation but still, it’s about balance.

Really, I would never make it as a stylist. At least not a great one. I’m too stuck in my ways. How many times would I be able to dress a model up as Little Orphan Annie? Probably not too many, and that’s really all I would ever want to do. So in the meantime, I just dress myself up in my weird old references. And if Russh ever wants a kooky fashion story based around a musical, they better know who to call! In the meantime, I’ll let you in on some of my favorite New York fashion spot secrets, and where I got the things that have made me the style icon that I am today (in my own mind).

TG170: This is the go to place for jeans, and it’s where I get all my Cheap Mondays, which are hard to find in NYC. I have both low and semi-high waist ones in colors that range from Indigo to Spring Blue. Black and grey are also color staples. You will never catch me wearing hot pink or acid washed denim anymore, although Cheap Monday makes those colors as well. I’m so glad I found the jeans that work just right for me, and the price is right too! My favorites are these Indigo ones that when I first got them, they hurt because the denim was so stiff. They were true indigo, the color used to come off on my hands. Now they have molded to my legs perfectly and the color is fading and pretty soon they will looks like the perfect pair of vintage Levi’s. I believe they will last long after the world ends, and yes, I got them at the one and only TG170. Located on TK Ludlow Street in Manhattan.

Lyell: Lyell makes beautiful, classic, timeless, Upper East Side-like pieces that are conveniently located downtown for me. Above all things, I trust Lyell’s coats. I have a navy blue pea coat with a princess cut that is perfect for both spring and fall. It looks like a dress! Every girl should own a pea coat in either light wool or cashmere and in my opinion, it should be in navy blue. Black is fine too but it can look a bit pedestrian. Navy blue is both subtle and different and very easy to match with anything. Even black. A lot of people are against wearing black and blue together, I am not one of those people.

Tom Binns: I said investment pieces! Yes that means all the big names; Cartier, Rolex, Hermes, Tiffany, etc. These are not cheap, and neither is Tom Binns, but the cool thing about Tom Binns is that you can get something amazing and special for under 1k and it will really make a major statement. Have you seen his neon shit? Yowza! I have a gold rococo cuff bracelet and it is one of my most favorite things in the world. I can be wearing jeans, a t-shirt, some Adidas Sambas and ratty old tote bag, but with my gold cuff on, I feel like a stylish superhero.  I don’t have much expensive jewelry, and 90% of it was handed down to me, but if you’re a hard working lady, treat yourself to something that maybe you can one day hand down to your daughter. That’s fucking style.

H&M: This might change when Top Shop opens, but anytime I’m in need of a quick fashion fix I pop into H&M and I can always find something good. Something that looks like a more expensive something else. Isn’t that the best? People ask me, “Is that sweater Alexander Wang?” Nope. H&M. “Did Alaia make that skirt?” Hardly. It’s H&M. I swear I’ve had that happen. Good for H&M and good for me! I’m a writer; my tax bracket is on the lower end of the class chain. H&M, I salute you, and I thank you forever and ever.

Urban Outfitters: Shhh! Don’t tell anyone! This is where I have to hang my head in fashion shame. Urban Outfitters is my total guilty pleasure spot, and I have a feeling I’m not the only one. The cons of this store is that if you do find something really cool (Chanel knock-off sequin hot pants) chances are you’ll see an army of girls wearing the same exact ones. Urban is a good spot for cheap lingerie and an occasional weird accessory. They also have some good vintage pieces in some of their stores, which is a plus for a stylish girl because most of the shoppers aren’t looking for that. I scored a grey oversized cashmere sweater for $50 and a ballet pink lace bodysuit, meant to wear under your clothes I guess, which is another rule I don’t follow.

Dang ya’ll, I can keep going. I haven’t even touched upon leather jackets, puffy winter coats, or bathing suits yet! Maybe they’ll be a part two next month? In the mean time, and I know this will sound gay, but the most priceless thing one can own is confidence. That’s what separates the girls who wear the clothes from the clothes that wear the girl. If you feel confident, regardless of whatever size you are or socio-economic situation, you will shine harder than any Cartier diamond cuff in the room. Sometimes however, that Cartier diamond cuff will give you a shitload of confidence. TTYL!